Sun snubs OpenBSD

By 12.05.2002 :: 12:54PM EDT12.05.2002

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with the constant hustle and bustle of the linux versus microsoft battle frequently holding the spotlight, it's easy to forget that there are other open source unix clones out there. so easy, in fact, that it appears sun microsystems completely forgot about openbsd. openbsd project leader theo de raadt has publicly locked horns with the systems giant, accusing it of hindering openbsd development by not disclosing hardware details on sun's latest processor, the ultrasparc iii.

de raadt's indignant behavior is to be expected, not only because sun failed to give openbsd the specs, but also because sun has been more than forthcoming for the linux team, giving it access to specs long in advance of the processor's release. “there's no one you can talk to. everybody stonewalls you,” says de raadt, obviously feeling the cold shoulder of sun's impersonal corporate treatment. “if sun says they are open, they need to start acting like it,” he says.

de raadt is no stranger to conflict, however. he's probably best known in the openbsd community for removing the packet filter subsystem from openbsd because the filter's author refused to allow others to change the code. the packet filter was the cornerstone of the openbsd firewall, a firewall that is widely considered to be one of the best reasons to implement openbsd in the first place.

eric's opinion
theo's known for kicking over anthills, but this time i think he's got the right target. sun loves to trumpet itself as being totally in sync with open source initiatives, but the truth of the matter is it's just riding the coattails of whatever's the most popular at the moment. openbsd, while a fantastically good os, doesn't have the market inertia that linux does. corporate support for it is practically non-existent when compared to the likes of red hat, and that's a shame, because openbsd has much to recommend it.

openbsd is getting full cooperation from another 64-bit processor vendor, though: advanced micro devices. amd's been handing out processor specs to anyone with a pulse for months now, trying to get the information into the hands of anyone who might need it. while this may sound like desperation, it's nothing more than market reality. amd needs to gain ground in the areas where sun, ibm, and intel are strong, and the best way to do that (above and beyond making a better processor) is to get as many adopters as possible.

it's nice to know there are alternatives willing to go the extra mile to get customers.

user comments 4 comment(s)

seems like de raadt did not find the right sun person.(1:09pm est thu dec 05 2002)at least now de raadt knows that sun open source liason officer is danese cooper. hopefully open source and sun will go smoothly now that de raadt knows who to contact. – by *nix guy

sun is silly(2:30pm est thu dec 05 2002)sun used to be cool. i hate their c++ for idiots java language. thanks for making work boring, stupid, and lower paying, and for making the results slower.

sun is over. – by moon

good day at sun and bad day at microsoft?(7:37pm est thu dec 05 2002)1) judge motz suggest that sun should go directly to trial on whether to force microsoft to carry java. judge: microsoft did not play fair– by go sun go

re: moon(7:16pm est fri dec 06 2002)here is your chance to put your two bits to improve java. java is going to be open source.ground work laid for open source java– by star